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Cancer Research
Study finds mutation driving deadly brain tumors, and a potential remedy
Study finds mutation driving deadly brain tumors, and a potential remedy
Researchers at Penn and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research discovered that a mutation in the epidermal growth receptor gene indicates a severe glioblastoma, and targeting this particular gene may further treatment.
Study reveals secrets of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ pancreatic cancer tumors
Study reveals secrets of ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ pancreatic cancer tumors
Immune cell makeup of tumors, and their ability to metastasize, is controlled by factors specific to individual cancer cells themselves.
New DVM Meghan Ramos continues her dog scent detection research as a Penn Vet Working Dog Center fellow.
New DVM Meghan Ramos continues her dog scent detection research as a Penn Vet Working Dog Center fellow.
At Penn Vet's Working Dog Center, Ramos is leading research projects training dogs to detect infections using scent detection.
How baking soda may boost cancer therapy
How baking soda may boost cancer therapy
Researchers describe how acidity makes oxygen-starved cancer cells dormant and drug resistant, and efforts to reduce acidity may be the key to improved responses to immunotherapy.
Mathematical model explains why metastasis can occur even when cancer is caught early
Mathematical model explains why metastasis can occur even when cancer is caught early
Researchers are uncovering the unique nature of individual cancer "communities" and how they evolve, and applying math models to understand their growth.
Ovarian cancer drug shows promise in pancreatic cancer patients
Ovarian cancer drug shows promise in pancreatic cancer patients
Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine have isolated the specific mutations that respond to FDA-approved treatments for ovarian cancer, opening up treatment options for other cancer patients who harbor those mutations.
Different diseases elicit distinct sets of exhausted T cells
Different diseases elicit distinct sets of exhausted T cells
A new study by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine found that immune systems that are battling long-term infections or chronic diseases are left fatigued, and identified nine distinct varieties of exhausted T cells, or Tex.
Stem cell signaling drives mammary gland development and, possibly, breast cancer
Stem cell signaling drives mammary gland development and, possibly, breast cancer
A connection between mammary stem cells and macrophages, a type of immune cell, is crucial for mammary gland development, and may also figure into the biology of breast cancer.
With second FDA approval, CAR-T’s transformative power multiplies
With second FDA approval, CAR-T’s transformative power multiplies
After last year’s approval to treat pediatric lymphoma, the latest indication will expand the number of patients that can be treated with personalized cell therapy almost tenfold.
Innovative vaccine offers canine cancer patients a shot at a longer, happier life
Innovative vaccine offers canine cancer patients a shot at a longer, happier life
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer to affect dogs. It is a painful and aggressive disease. Affecting more than 10,000 dogs annually, predominantly larger breeds, it kills more than 85 percent within two years.
In the News
CNN
There’s still no standard test to detect pancreatic cancer early. Scientists are working to change that
A 2020 study from the Perelman School of Medicine found that a blood test to screen for certain biomarkers associated with pancreatic cancer was 92% accurate in its ability to detect disease.
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Associated Press
A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests
A clinical trial led by Stephen Bagley of the Perelman School of Medicine suggests that targeting two associated proteins with CAR T cell therapy could be a viable strategy for shrinking brain tumors.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn’s BRCA cancer vaccine trial aims to prevent the disease in healthy people
A trial led by Susan Domchek of the Perelman School of Medicine could use a preventive vaccine to protect people with a BRCA gene mutation from cancer.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
UPenn scientists among those developing vaccines that arm the immune system to fight cancer
Penn Medicine researchers like Nobel laureate Drew Weissman are leading efforts to develop a vaccine that prevents cancer, with remarks from Susan Domchek of the Basser Center for BRCA and Robert H. Vonderheide of the Abramson Cancer Center.
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Psychology Today
AI detects cancers and immunotherapy biomarker
Daiwei Zhang and Mingyao Li of the Perelman School of Medicine and colleagues have developed an AI tool called iStar that can automatically spot tumors and types of cancer that are difficult for clinicians to see or identify and can predict candidates for immunotherapy.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Penn started giving cancer patients free rides to appointments. It helped reduce no-shows and increase clinical trial enrollment
The Abramson Cancer Center is attempting to address one of the most common challenges cancer patients face: lack of transportation to critically important appointments. Robert Vonderheide and Carmen Guerra of the Perelman School of Medicine are quoted on the Ride Health initiative.
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